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NJ teen, 15, charged with murder in shooting death of Plainfield 16-year-old

The 15-year-old male, identified as Q.C., surrendered to authorities Friday, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, North Plainfield Chief of Police William Parenti and North Plainfield Mayor Michael Giordano Jr. announced in a release.

Detectives have established a preliminary motive for the shooting, which is not being released in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation, Robertson said. They've established the shooting was an isolated incident and the victim was the intended target, he said.

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Steiner Place in North Plainfield where 16-year-old Altereek Johnson was found dead on Tuesday, Aug. 6.(Photo: Nick Muscavage/Staff Photo)

According to Robertson, Q.C. was transported to the Somerset County Family Court and remanded to the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.

Q.C. is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, Robertson said.

At 7:24 p.m. Tuesday, a 911 call was received reporting an unknown male on the ground, possibly hit by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, North Plainfield police officers located the victim, Altereek Johnson of Plainfield, with a gunshot wound on the ground, according to Robertson. He was found near Steiner Place.

North Plainfield EMS went to the scene and performed life-saving measures on Johnson before he was taken to a nearby hospital and subsequently succumbed to his injuries, Robertson said.

On Saturday, there was a small memorial set up near the top of Steiner Place next to a utility pole. A small colorful bouquet of flowers and five candles sat at the corner of the street.

Steiner Place is a small side street about 100 yards long abutting Somerset Square shopping mall in downtown North Plainfield.

"My condolences to all victims of gun violence and its more heartbreaking when young people are the victims of gun violence," Norman Deen Muhammad of the Plainfield Anti-Violence Coalition said in a statement. "Our concerns, commitments and actions must be proactive to work collectively against situations that lead to such tragedies and not just be momentarily reactive in our outrage."

Muhammad offered his condolences go out to the Johnson family and said "we have to work above and beyond to ensure these tragic events don't ever occur again."

Mayor Giordano declined to comment and deferred any questions the county prosecutor's office.

Parenti, who is running for Somerset County Sheriff, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A memorial created on Steiner Place in North Plainfield where 16-year-old Altereek Johnson was found dead on Tuesday, Aug. 6.(Photo: Nick Muscavage/Staff Photo)

Detectives from Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit responded to the scene, along with detectives from the North Plainfield Police Department to investigate.

Authorities are requesting anyone with information about the shooting, or anyone who may have witnessed the shooting, to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2937 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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